Page 24 of A Crane Family New Year

Her mind scrambled to make sense of the information that Zander had shared.

“You—you’re Hopper Fan…?”

“Zero two,” he finished when she didn’t. Or rather, couldn’t.

No way could she process that and concentrate on dancing. She released him and left the parquet flooring while keeping a cordial smile on her face so that no one—namely Tag or Rachel who were canoodling nearby—would notice that there was something wrong.

Not that there was anything wrong.

She was just…surprised.

She’d chatted with HopperFan02 online over the past few months, but she’d never expected to meet him in person. She certainly hadn’t been prepared to meet him in person. Especially after ignoring his invitation.

Ugh. Why had she done that?

“Chloe.” Zander followed behind her but thankfully kept his voice down.

She had no intention of running away from him again, and so she turned and clasped his hand. Pulling him closer, she led them to a dim corner of the room, near a tall cocktail table with empty glasses on its surface.

“You’re really him.” She was still wrapping her mind around the fact that the man who curated art and photographed it for the app was Zander Crane. The same man who’d been lost in Reese Crane’s mansion with her. The man with his hand in hers now.

“Believe me, I was as surprised as you are when I found out.”

“I don’t understand how?—”

“Like I said, I saw your photos framed and hanging in the hallway. I recognized the style, specifically the snickerdoodle photo. It’s the same one you posted on our app. The app.”

Our app.

Chloe had posted that photo. She’d been so proud of it. Not that she’d been trying to remain incognito, but she hadn’t been remotely ready to let the world know she was a photographer. The app was a safe space. She could test out her work and field reactions without commitment.

No one had been more taken aback than she when she’d learned that Merina and Reese were interested in her work. Chloe had shown Isa a few shots one evening, and Isa, who’d recently taken up matchmaking—it applied to dates, friends, and apparently clients as well—had mentioned the photos to Merina.

“This is so awkward.” Chloe put her hand to her forehead. She felt exposed. Outed. What must Zander think of her after she’d ghosted his online persona and then flirted with him the entire evening?

“I’m sorry.” His eyebrows bent in apology.

She was already shaking her head. He had nothing to be sorry about.

“I knew it was a risk to tell you the truth after not hearing from you via message,” he continued, “but it didn’t seem right to keep it from you. At least not on our first date.” His smile was crooked.

Adorably crooked.

She clucked her tongue. How genuinely nice. The men she’d dated in the past would have been more than happy to leave in her in the dark if they thought it would have boded well for their chances with her. Jaylyn was right. Zander was a good guy…

Unless he arranged this entire evening to corner me, her pesky brain put in.

“Not to be overly suspicious of your intentions, but…did you know I was going to be here?”

“No. Not at all.” His answer was quick enough that she believed him.

“So, when you invited me out…you weren’t planning on coming here?”

“No. I was going to take you to the Vancouver Hotel for a dinner party. It was very public and safe. I wouldn’t have thrust you into my family’s house when we’d never met.” His lips flinched into a brief smile. “And yet here we are.”

“Here we are.” A true kismet moment.

“If you don’t mind my asking…”

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